New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-26
A CITY HOME.
EXPERIENCE OF A HOUSE-HUNTER
Conclusion.

as an allurement from high endeavOr. am mindful OF
Lord Bacons observation that wife and children are 10
be regarded impediments to great enterprises
either of virtue mischief But on this point these TWO
philosophers generaized rashly. 1t Is the browning
glory of home that renews in man that ardor
for whatever his hand finds without which the best
achievement is impossible. Arthur Hugh Clough whose
insight was clear and penetrating certainly did not
agree with home theory of Emerson and Bacon else
he would never have written these lines which reflect
the views of the majority:
We're YOU with me- or I with you,
There's naught, mcthinks, might nor uo'
Could venture here AMI venture there
And never fear care
To things before, and things Dehlnd, 81,
Could turn my thoughts and turn ny mind,
On this and that, dag after day
Could dare to throw myself away,
Secure. when all was DER. TO find
Ny proper thought, my perfect Ihhu
And unimpaircd receive anew
My own and better self in you
| By Lares and Penates, there was man WIN Keen
vision who would have Indignantly outed the PROPOSE
ton that from pleasant home flows influences that are
impedments great enterprises Inc lacI Is 'h"'
one has il him perform great enterprises inc great
enterprises are pretty 10 be PERFORMED whether 'o
worker has a pleasant or unpleasant nome or Is oeS'
tute of any sort of a home. George Washingion-not
70 ,nultinv examples-who had a pleasant home,
acbieyed as notable a career Napoleon Bonaparte,
whose domestic relations presumably were not SO agree
able The further discussion OF this question Is retteu
70 any hrscass debating society that is casting about
for a good prOvOcatiOn To argument MUST Tue Pie9h'
home 60 in the interest of the worlds work We sha
see what the debating societies decide.
As was minated in a preceding paper we did not get
our home without struggle. We inspected good many
houses East Side and West Side before reaching de-
cison and buying We firmly believe that We have maze
an uncommony wise choice, that we got all that we
could reasonably expect for money and something
more We have come anchor where we have the
Central Park side of us and the deepbosomed
Hudson on the other sde-charming neghbors both OF
Them Age cannot wither them nor custom stale their
infinite variety. Besides, they have no growing
daughters that practise with uniaggng ardor at we'll
meaning but inirm piano Beneath the house That Is
favored BY such neighbOrs is sandy, gravely soil
found could persuade Prudence TO consider house
buit upon n rock In vain reminded her that the wise
man in the Scriptures built his house that way, ana
pontedy inquired If she would fly In the face of Rev
elaton.
Richard" she replied, II do not believe that the
Bible ever intended TO the purpose either OF
scientific treatise OF guide for inexperienced people
Turned ,ose in the real estate NewYork City
Besides what do know about this house of the wise
man Simply that, being founded on rock, the winds
and he floods unable TO wreck It, That's all go
that It's builder although wise. may have been scky
sort OF man. his house rock may have given MIN inc
malaria The rains into the creyices OF rock found
atoms and stay there When the soil is sandy the rains
are carried off, When not carried of they remain 70 DC
taken up into the walls, thus making the house damp
The result of these observations that agreed with
Prudence that it would be foolish for us to Initiate the
wise man.
Another of the excellent features this home of
with its delightful neghbors OF wood and water and its
sandy grayey foundations is the plumbing The Indian
held that much whiskey was just enough We went
house hunting with the motto that too little plumbing
was Just enough and bought house entirely destitute
OF stationary washstands The fact that we are on the
south side OF the street will be regarded by some people
a. Iluftv do notS 50 req
southern exposure for our diningro and orr
back yard and feel that it more desirable to nave inc
sunbeam them than the paror and the Othcr 'front.'
rooms We are fond OF sunshine in the morning at
breaIfas-it starts the day right. ii does not 50 ch
matter that the parior light the dining room.
since ii is OF evening than day apartment ana
if the sleeping rooms at the front miss the sunshine
those at the rear do As for the dcsiraby OF hav-
ing plenty of in ones yard, nothing need De SAID
Sunshine is good for flowers and for the weeks wash
hanging dry. And here is as good place as any
TO state that the yard although not farsrechng as
some OF the Western wheat farms possesses acreage
enough to admit of swinging the largcssizcd cat within
IT, in case kept "a cat which do not Our cat is a
0icensed) dog. who finds the grounds ample enough to
admit of her taking all the exercise she needs without
esorng TO the public street AS another proof that the
yard is not as small it might be- may state that the
children have already raised enough flowers upon 1t to
| furnish me with several buttonhole bouquets.
Before proceeding to mention what is that does not
please in the house. word as to the WOODWORK ana
the ceilings. Most OF the wood is oak, handsomely
grained oak; a great improvemcnt-so we think-on
real imitation mahogany walnut with its dull
color much of the raw red cherry That goes into
houses these days. Oak has an honest disnhed look,
even If II does not claim equality with the San Domingo
branch Of the mahogany. The ceilings are not as FAR
from the floor the ceilings OF the great naughty
mansions on the avenues But what is thus lost in
height is gained in cOseyness We that II the
lanlf1 iupp nj
the charm which they now pos sess for u.s. Did men'
ton that the began with good big cellar that the
stairway In main hall is set well back between the
paror and the dining roo that the draft OF each OF
the fire places is truly good
Ihaye remarked that our home has n drawback. The
reference not to its mortgage but its Venetian blinds
Why Venetian am unable to state saw no blinds
of the sort when In Venice but If that superb city
ever addicted to them 1t is not strange that much
of her former opulent glory should have departed
general diffusion OF Venetian blinds could be depended
upon to have disastrous effect upon the fortunes of any
city, for know them is TO have thorough apprccla
ton of what APPLY been styled the total depravity OF
inanimate things. They change wholesome hearts to
gall. They are constant provocation TO fluent pro-
family They find little difficulty in getting out of order
ninetyfvc times out OF possible one hundred Nobody
up. One recollects which of the dangling cords
attached TO them Is which, and generally haus on the
wrong one In emergency Venetian blndsare certain
10 be true to their worst selves either declining to bulge
or going up with evident reluctance and fagranty
askew, or ascending only 10 descend suddenly with
clater that plays sad havoc with nerves. Venetian
blinds however are stylish and handsome and find II
easy to ingraate themselves into the favor of
who seem TO have little difficulty In getting on with
them Prudence is pleased with those that hang at
own windows But as for her husband-well, they came
with house and he toerates them-for the present
Prudence has been looking my shoulder while /
have been writing this tribute to Venetian blinds.
inquire SSa fGs S
Not q word not a word" she answers. You
| ust 10
written as you have"
"Why ~
Because your TRADE against them. while 1t doesn't
hurt the blinds does go prove that find your home
very satisfying When man IL asked II there Is any
thing about his house that he doesn't like and has
got content himself with making reproachful refer
ence TO Venetian blinds, IL is safe 70 conclude that
"Of IL is safe 10 conclude Prudence. Reading
between the Stats Of the Venetian blinds you have dis
Covered that am tremendously pleased with this
| hor, az o1rs hat a va Xnuld mlkai 4